Chalk Festival

Now in its ninth year - and the second year since it moved to Venice - the Sarasota Chalk Festival is one of the largest art events of the year. Tens of thousands turn out to see the incredible pavement painting created by hundreds of gifted artists from around the world, with the rare opportunity to watch the masters at work and see how the images take shape over a period of days. The artists themselves work for 12-14 hours a days to finish their works, ranging from intricate two-dimensional traditional painting done in pastel chalks to mind-boggling three-dimensional creations that trick your mind with images that seem to go deeper than the ground they're painted on.

(Photo/ Matt Houston )

Many of the old favorites are back, including a revisit of last year's attempt at the world record for largest 3D chalk painting, featuring a team of artists from Italy, Canada, Peru, Germany, Spain, Mexico, the Netherlands and the U.S. led by Kurt Wenner - one of the artists who created the style in the 1980s. This year's piece is titled "Feast of the Gods" - in deference to the 2015 fest theme of "Eat, Drink and Be Merry" - and will measure over 22,000 square feet of pavement at the Venice Airport.

Visitors will also be able to see the works by 3D and traditional artists displayed at the airport, watch students get their hands dirty with their own 5x5 plot of pavement, and rub elbows with the artists at opening and closing night parties.

This year's fest does bring a few new elements to the fun, however.

On Friday, Saturday and Sunday the fest will host a Pavement Music Festival, featuring local and regional bands ranging from Bird Tribe to Heart Machine. There are also new vertical walls where senior citizens can paint, chalk, graffiti or stencil designs without the need to scuff their knees on the pavement, as well as a children's area featuring plenty of activities for the kids. There's also a large delegation of artists from China, which means more variety in the artwork, as well as a Chinese opera featuring demonstrations of traditional arts.

And with most of the fest taking place at the Venice Airport this year, it will be easy to take in as much art as you can handle, before it wears away under the sun, wind and rain of Florida. Brings new meaning to "for a limited time only."

(Photo/ Matt Houston )

SARASOTA CHALK FESTIVAL
Today-Monday; chalkfestival.org
Parking at Venice Airport is $10. Shuttles will run from Venice Airport to West Miami Avenue to view the Downtown Pavement Art.

AIRPORT PAVEMENT ART
See 3D and 2D works of art by chalk specialists from around the world, as they work 12-16 hours a day to complete their projects by Sunday. Go early and often - you never know when the weather might play havoc with the art.
8 a.m.-6 p.m. today-Monday; Venice Airport Fairgrounds, 900 Airport Ave., Venice; free

3D ILLUSION WORLD RECORD
Kurt Wenner, one of the originators of the 3D pavement art illusion style, has worked with a team of artists to create this massive masterpiece. You can interact with the art, have pictures taken, or just gawk from the sidelines.
8 a.m.-6 p.m. today-Monday; Venice Airport Fairgrounds, 900 Airport Ave., Venice; free (a fee for photos by Chalk Festival photographers may apply)

OPENING DANCE PARTY
Rub elbows with many of the artists who have traveled to the Chalk Festival from around the world at this opening night gala.
7 p.m. Thursday; Venice Airport Fairgrounds, 900 Airport Ave., Venice; $35

DOWNTOWN PAVEMENT ART
Pavement artists will turn downtown Venice's West Miami Avenue into a massive canvass. Artists start Friday morning and over three days will complete their artwork, but don't wait until the end - this is performance art.
8 a.m.-6 p.m. Friday-Monday; West Miami Avenue, Venice; free

SENIORS GOING VERTICAL
New this year are a series of 8-feet tall and 20-feet wide walls specifically for senior citizens to create their own artworks using pastels, chalk, spray paint, brushes, rollers, stencils and more in this freestyle art project.
9 a.m.-5 p.m. Friday-Sunday; Venice Airport Fairgrounds, 900 Airport Ave., Venice; free

STUDENT PAVEMENT ARTISTS
Student artists attend a pre-event class to give them some pointers, then have a 5-by-5 foot section of pavement to decorate their own design, inspired by the Chalk Fest's "Eat, Drink and Be Merry Theme." Student artists must apply, but once they do the event is free.
8 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday-Sunday; Venice Airport Fairgrounds, 900 Airport Ave., Venice; free

LITTLE CHALK'RS
An interactive and fun play area where kids can try out the same pastels chalks the professionals use, along with other fun activities like face-painting, magic and more.
9 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday-Sunday; Venice Airport Fairgrounds, 900 Airport Ave., Venice; free